Picking a Winner to Run Against Bush

Re Al Gore endorsing Howard Dean, Dec. 9: How many times do the Democrats have to hear that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is White House political advisor Karl Rove’s “dream candidate” before they wake up and look to the centrists for their nominee? If it’s Dean versus Bush in ‘04, look for a Democratic defeat sadly reminiscent of the George McGovern/Michael Dukakis fiascoes. A save might be possible with a Dean-Wesley Clark ticket, but the very thought brings to mind the highly unlikely image of flying pigs.

Mary Beth Culp

Rolling Hills Estates

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The opinions of the people of California, a state that will send more than four times as many delegates to the July 2004 Democratic National Convention as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina combined, have been virtually ignored by the pundits analyzing the upcoming presidential election. Those smaller states are constantly scrutinized, while the most recent Field poll of Californians, which showed Clark in the lead, is over 2 months old.

The media have already proclaimed Dean the eventual winner. Now Gore is hinting that the other candidates should gracefully step aside before a single ballot has been cast. Wherever did I get the bizarre notion that ordinary voters will have the last word in choosing the Democratic nominee?

Chris Norlin

Los Angeles

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Because of his support for a concealed weapons permit law while governor of Vermont, I would not cast my vote in the Democratic primary for Dean if God endorsed him!

Howard Cohen

North Hills

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Re “Dean’s Remarks on 9/11 Stir Furor,” Dec. 9: That Dean and millions of voters can connect dots should worry the Republican Party, whose president didn’t, couldn’t or wouldn’t.

Stephen Pitt

Moreno Valley